Switch mechanism



(No Model.)

J. T. HAMBAY.

SWITCH MEOHANISM.

Patented Mar. 19, 1889.,

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.IAMES T. HAMBAY, OF TIIJKINSBURG PENNSYLVANIA.

SWlTCl-'l MECHANlSil/l.

SPECIFICATICN forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,888, dated March 19, 1889.

Application filed July 3, 1888. $erial No. 278,963. (No model.)

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Be it known that I, JAnEs T. HAMBAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Mechanism, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in mechanism i or shifting and looking switch-points, and has for its object a construction of inechanisni whereby the unlocking, shifting, and subsequent locking of the points is effected by a single movement of the mechanism, and whereby such movements of the shifting mechanisin and of the points is prevented during the passa-ge of a train or car over the switch-points.

In general terms the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of mechanical devices, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a railroad-switch and my improved inechanism applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the switch shifting and looking inechanisni on an enlarged scale.

IVithin convenient proximity of the movable switch-rails I secure a bed-plate, 1, in which is secured a pin or bolt, 2, having an enlarged head, .3,for1ning a journal for the toothed wheel, a. This wheel is rotated by a rack, 5, held in engagement with the wheel by a friction-roller, 17, mounted on a pin secured to the bed-plate, said rack being connected by a bell-crank, 6, and rod 7 or other I suitable devices to the Operating mechanisin. (Not shown.) On the upper face of the wheel a is secured a pin, 8, which is connected by a link, 9, to the movable switeh-rails and by a link, 10, to the looking-pin 11. This lookingpin 11 is arranged in suitable guideal, formed on the bed-plate l, and is adapted to engage holes fornied in the looking-bar 13, secured at one end to the movable switch-rails and passing through a `guide-opening, 14, formed in the bed-plate transverse of the path of movei other` suitable part of the mechanisni 1]. is connected by a rod, 15, to the detector-rail 1G, located in suitable proximity to the switchpoints, as shown in Fig. l.

The operation of niy improved niechanism' as follows, the several parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1: The rack-bar 5 is pushed inwardly by means of the bell-crank 6 and rod 7 thereby rotatiug the toothed wheel 4, as indicated by the arrow. During Ithe nlovement of the pin S in said wheel from the position shown to the point co very little motion will be iinparted to the switch-rails, but the locking-bolt 11, being arranged at right angles to the path of moveinent of the switch-rails and in line with said movement of the pin 8, will be entirely withdrawn from engageinent with the locking-bar- As the pin 8 moves from the point a to the point bi. e., in line with the path of movement of the switch-rails--the latter will be shifted to the desired position; but the looking-pin will be only slightly moved, as such niovement of the pin 8 from a to Z) is transverse to the path of moveinent of the looking-pin.

The distance between the points a and Z) is equal to the required movement of the movable switch-rails, and hence by the time the pin S reaches the point b said rails will have been shifted and the hole e in the looking-bar 13 brought into line with the looking-pin 11. The pin S in its further movement from the point b to the point c will be effective only in pushing the locking-pin into the hole e, thereby looking the switeh-rails in position.

= Although the pin 8 in moving froin its initial point to the point a and between the points b c will have a slight movement in the f line of travel of the switclrrails, the resili' once of the connectioiis will be sufiicient to perinit of such slight inotion.

As the detector-rail is connected to the locking-pin in such man nei' that the rail is raised above the main rail by the unlocking 1novement of said pin, it follows that said pin cannot be withdrawn from the looking-bar while a car is standing on or passing along the portion of the main rail adjacent to the detector bar or rail.

ment of the looking-pin. The looking-pin or l In l'etuii'ning the' niovalole switch-rails to IOO normal position the a'boVe-desci'iloed movements of the Operating niechanisni are rcversed, as Will be readily understood.

It Will be observed that the locking-pin and movable sWitch-rails are so connected to the Operating-Wheel that full inoveinents are in1- parted to the pin and rails in sequence, and that a full niovelnent of the looking-pin always precedes and follows the full inoveinent of the rails, and that this proportioning of the movements of the looking-pin and i'ails can be effected either by connecting said parts to the Wheel at the same or diainetricallyopposite points, the direction of the looking' and unlocking` inoveinents of the pin being reversed in the latter case.

It will also be observed that the looking-pin and the detector-rail are so connected to the Wheel that the amount of moveinent of the Wheel necessary to lower the detector-rail below the tread of the main rail will move the pin S a little past a line passing through the aXis of the Wheel and the pin connecting the link 9 to the sWitch-rails, so that any force applied to the rails tending to shift the same Will tend to rotate the Wheel in the direction of the looking nioveinent of the pin. This relative arrangeinent of the parts prevents any accidental shifting of the switch-rails.

I claiin herein as my inventionl. In a switch inechanism, the combination of moV-able sWitch-rails, a looking-ba]` connected thereto, a looking-pin, and a rotating wheel, the locking-pin and sWitch-rails having independent connections to the Wheel at the same or diametrically-opposite points, Whereby a full nioveinent of the pin preoeding and sueoeeding a full lnovement of the s'vitch-rails is secured, substantially as set forth.

2. In a switch Ineohanism, the combination of inovable sWitoh-rails, a ilooking-bar connected thereto, a looking-pin, and a rotating Wheel7 the looking-pin and sWitch-rails having connections to the same or diametricallyopposite points of the Wheel, said connections being arranged at right angles to each other, substantially as set forth.

3. In a switch inechanism, the combination of inovable sWitch-rails, a looking-bar connected thereto, a locking-pin, a detector-rail, and a rotating Wheel, the looking-pin, detectori'ail, and switch-rails having connections to the same or (liametrically-opposite points of the wheel, the connections for the detectorrail and looking-pin being arranged at right angles to the connection of the sWitch-rail, substantially as set forth.

In testimony Whereof I have hereunto sct niy hand.

JAMES T. HAMBAY.

Titn esses:

V. B. OoRWIN, DARWIN S. W oLcoTr. 

